Clutch.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

Nol 865,469.`

E. E. WRIGHT.

CLUTCH.

APPLIOATION FILED 001227. 1906` Wa'mcsges.

rn: NoRRls PETERS cal, wAsmNamN, v. c,

EARL E, WRIGHT, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

CLUTCH.

Speceaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed OCtGber 27,1906. Serial No. 340,832.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL E. WRIGHT, a citizen ofY the United States ofAmerica, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and Auseful Improvements in Clutches, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to clutches, and the invention has for itsprimary object to provide novel form of clutch wherein the grippingpower of the same can be increased or decreased according to the work tobe performed by the clutch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clutch wherein positiveand reliable means are employed for insuring a perfect frictionalContact of one part of the clutch with another part,

To this end, I have devised a simple and inexpensive clutch made of aplurality of parts easily and quickly assembled and disassembled, theclutch being designed whereby it can be easily enlarged or decreased insize in accordance with the amount of work to be performed by theclutch.

The detail construction of my clutch will be presently described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification, likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvedclutch, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the clutch, and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view ofthe same.

In the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates thedrive shaft of a suitable engine, the end of said shaft being providedwith a socket 2 to receive the cylindrical contracted end 3 of atransmission or driven shaft 4. Upon the transmission shaft 4 isslidably mounted a hub 5 carrying at its one end a large disk 6, whileat its opposite end is formed the sleeve or housing 7 for a coil spring8, which bears against a collar 9 secured to the transmission shaft 4.The hub 5 intermediate the housing 7 and the disk 6 is provided with anannular groove 9, to receive the forked end of a lever (not shown)employed for operating my clutch.

Upon the end of the transmission shaft 4 adjacent to the disk 6 l mountdisks 10 and Il, these disks having a diameter equivalent to the disk 6and hub portions 12 The' disks 10 and 11 are secured to the hub 5 byscrew bolts 14 passing through the hubs 12 and engaging in the hub 5,said screw bolts having counter'- sunk heads. The disks G, 10 and 11being all connected together, slide upon the transmission shaft 4, andreference will now be had to those elements carried by the drive orengine shaft 1.

Upon the hub 5 is mounted a circular recess plate 15 adapted to housethe disk 6. Prior to placing the disks 10 and Il upon the transmissionshaft 4, l place a circular recess plate 16 upon the plate 15, the plate16 engaging the back of the disk 6, and having a central opening 17whereby the hub l2 of the disk 10 can be placed in engagement with thehub 5. Another plate 18 similar to the plate 16 is now placed inengagement with the back of the disk 10, and then the disk 1I is placedupon the transmission shaft 4. After the plates 15, 16 and 18 have beenso assembled, a circular head 19 is connected to the plates 15, 16 and18 by screw bolts 20, said screw bolts retaining the plates 15, 1G and18 in position to house the disks 6, 10 and 11.

' The head 19 is keyed or suitably fixed to the drive or engine shaft 1,whereby when said shaft revolves, the plates l5, 16 and 18 will berevolved therewith.

The outer plate 15 is provided with a screw-threaded port 21 normallyclosed by the plug 22. ,The plates I6 and 18 are provided with openings23. The screwthreaded port 21 is provided whereby suitable lubricatingoil may be injected into the clutch, while the openings 23 permit of theoil circulating between the disks and plates. When the clutch is beingrevolved the y oil will be quickly distributed throughout the clutch andpermit of the clutch being easily operated.

In operation, the hub 5 is moved upon the transmission shaft 4 todisengage the disks 6, 1() and 11 from the plates 15 and 16 and 18 topermit-of the shaft l rotating independently of the shaft 4. The coilspring 8 normally holds the disks 6, 10 and 11 in engagement with theplates 1G, 18 and the head 19, whereby the transmission shaft 4 willrotate with the shaft 1. To prevent the disks 6, 10 and 11 fromcontacting with the opposite faces of the plates 15, 1G and 18, l havemounted a collar 9 in close proximity to the housing 7 whereby theoutward movement of the housing will be limited, thus centering thedisks 6, 10 and 11 between the plates 15,16 and 18.

By the novel construction of my/improved clutch, it will be observedthat I have provided a large gripping surface for the contacting platesand disks, besides providing a construction which permits of a number ofdisks and plates being increased or decreased, it being understood thatwhen the disks and plates are to be increased in number that the hub 5is placed upon the shaft 4 a suflicient distance from the end thereof topermit of additional disks and plates being mounted thereon.

A particular feature of my invention resides in the fact that I havedispensed with any particular wearing point about the clutch, thefrictional contacting sui'- faces thereof being equally distributedthroughout the clutch, thereby insuring a more positive operation thanif the contact points were diametrically opposite as in the ordinarytype of shoe clutch.

The clutch is preferably constructed oi strong and durable metal7 and Ido not care to confine myself to its speciiie use or construction.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

1. ln a clutch, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft connected thereto, ahub on the driven shaft, a disk carried by the inner end of the saidhub, a plurality of disks mounted on the driven shaft and connected tothe said huh to rotate in unison therewith, a plate mounted on the huhto revolve independently thereof, a plate keyed to the drive shaft, aplurality ot' plates interposed between the first named plates andsecurely fastened thereto to revolve therewith, and a spring on thedriven shaft normally holding said plurality of plates in frictionalengagement with the disks.

2. In a clutch, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft connected thereto, ahuh on the driven shaft, a disk carried by the inner end of said huh, asecond disk mounted on the driven shaft and connected to said hub torotate in unison therewith, a plate mounted on the hub to revolveindependently thereof, a plate keyed to the drive shaft, a

second plate interposed between said rst named plates and securelyfastened thereto to revolve therewith, and a spring on the driven shaftnormally holding said second named disk in engagement with the saidinterposed plate.

3. ln a clutch, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft con-- nected thereto,a hub free to revolve on the driven shaft and havingsleeve or housing onone end, a disk carried hy the opposite end of said hub, a plurality ofdisks mounted on the driven shaft and connected with said hub to rotatein unison therewith, a plate mounted on the hub to revolve independentlythereof, a second plate keyed to the drive shaft, a plurality of platesinterposed between said rst named plates and connected adjacent theirperipheries to said first named plates so as to revolve in unisontherewith, a collar on the driven shaft, and a spring within the sleeveor housing of said hub having its one end abutting said collar andnormally holding the Vinterposed plates and disks in frictionalengagement.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' EARL E. WRIGHT.

Witnesses MAX H. SnoLovrrz, K. II. BUTLER.

